Working at Auckland Museum

New Zealand’s first Museum

Established in 1852, Tāmaki Paenga Hira - Auckland War Memorial Museum is New Zealand’s first Museum and recognised as holding nationally and internationally significant collections.

As well as being home to millions of important objects, the Museum is the much-loved workplace of approximately 280 dedicated volunteers and the equivalent of 200 full-time paid employees.

We tell the stories of Auckland and New Zealand, our place in the Pacific and of our people. Our stories are told onsite; online, through increasingly relevant digital programming; and through offsite and outreach activities.

A plan for transformation

As an organisation we are on a journey of transformation that will change the way we work, where we do it and the stories we tell. Future Museum is the Museum’s Masterplan that will guide us through the process over the next 20 years.

Future Museum focuses on the Museum’s collections and audiences. And to ensure we support the development of Auckland as the ‘world’s most liveable city’, it covers how we work closely with Auckland Council and respond to the Auckland Plan.

Future Museum also has a bicultural focus, derived from the Museum’s Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations that are embedded in the Auckland War Memorial Act 1996. In practice we reflect this through incorporating He Kōrahi Māori, a Māori dimension, in everything we do and in what visitors will see, feel and experience.

Reaching more people

The journey ahead of us will become more and more digital, as we aim to reach all audiences by being responsive to Auckland’s increasingly diverse demographics. Our intent is not only to maintain the Museum’s place as a cultural leader and major tourist attraction, but also to have a direct and positive social impact on Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland’s people.